Earlier this week, it was reported that the U.S. Olympic basketball team will hold a spot for LeBron James for Los Angeles 2028 ‘if he wants it’.

The 41-year-old recently signed a two-year deal to stay in the NBA with the Philadelphia 76ers but said last year that he will not be playing in the next Olympic Games.

For what it’s worth, LeBron, you’ll always have a spot on our Wednesday night social basketball team.

🏉 The North Queensland Cowboys bounced back from last week’s 82-12 loss to the Roosters, beating the Gold Coast Titans 30-8 on the Gold Coast. Veteran Cowboys forward Jason Taumalolo broke a try-scoring drought stretching back to 2022 while teammate Heilum Luki crossed twice. The win keeps North Queensland's finals hopes alive, while the Titans remain near the foot of the ladder. The NRL’s Indigenous Round continues tonight as the Warriors (3rd) host the Panthers (1st), and the Roosters (2nd) take on the Bulldogs (9th). 

🚴 Mauritian cyclist Kim Le Court Pienaar won stage six of the Tour de France Femmes, outsprinting an eight-rider breakaway at Tournon-sur-Rhône. She crashed early and changed bikes with 15km left, and still managed to hold on. It is her second stage win at the Tour de France Femmes in two years. Switzerland's Marlen Reusser still holds the overall lead, 12 seconds ahead of 2023 champion Demi Vollering, with the gruelling Mont Ventoux queen stage still to come. The race will finish in Nice on Sunday (local time).

🏉 The AFL and AFL Players Association released a joint statement yesterday responding to reports that Geelong asked a player to give up the right to sue over future brain injury in order to keep playing. The statement said the player was cleared to play by a concussion panel before signing a letter seeking to waive those rights. Geelong will remove the clause from the waiver, which was signed two years ago, and any similar deal will now need league and union approval. Meanwhile, the North Melbourne Kangaroos upset the Western Bulldogs 100-77 on Thursday night. It’s the club’s first win over a top eight side since 2019 and means the Bulldogs will have to win at least one of their two final matches to secure a finals spot. 

⚽ UEFA, which governs European football, is standing by its vow to sit out FIFA competitions until president Gianni Infantino leaves his role. It was unmoved by FIFA's show of support for him this week, saying in a statement: “UEFA..has lost confidence in Gianni Infantino’s presidency. That position holds. Yesterday’s announcement that some people employed by the FIFA president (and whose careers depend on his favour) agree with him changes nothing.” The trigger was a since-abandoned plan by Infantino’s to sell part of FIFA's tournaments to private investors. The first competition that could be subject to a boycott is next month's Under-20 Women's World Cup in Poland.

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Talking points: Queensland Reds coach Les Kiss begins his Wallabies tenure as Australia face Japan on Saturday night in Osaka, stepping in after Joe Schmidt’s two-year stint. Meanwhile, Japan are coached by Eddie Jones, who led Australia to its worst-ever World Cup result in 2023 when the Wallabies crashed out in the pool stage for the first time. Kiss announced his squad on Thursday, with the biggest changes coming in the tight five. Aidan Ross starts at loosehead prop for the first time, Miles Amatosero comes into the second row, and regular starting prop Angus Bell has been dropped to the bench. Fraser McReight returns at openside flanker, and Hunter Paisami comes in at inside centre for the injured Len Ikitau. Uncapped centre Isaac Henry could also make his debut off the bench as Australia's 999th men’s Test player. Australia has won all seven Test matches against Japan. Players are expected to contend with hot and humid conditions in Osaka.
How to watch: The Wallabies match will kick off on Saturday at 8:05pm (AEST). You can watch the match on Channel 9 and Stan Sport.

Talking points: The Tour de France Femmes reaches its conclusion this weekend across three final stages. Swiss world time trial champion Marlen Reusser leads by just 12 seconds ahead of  2023 Tour champion Demi Vollering, with 2024 winner Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney third. Friday's queen stage features the first women's summit finish on Mont Ventoux, where pure climbers Vollering and Niewiadoma-Phinney will be looking to overturn Reusser's slim lead. A queen stage is the toughest stage of a multi-day cycling race. Sunday's final stage climbs the Col d'Èze four times around Nice before the 2026 champion is crowned. 
How to watch: SBS and SBS On Demand, live and free. The Ventoux stage screens in the early hours of Saturday AEST.

Talking points: The 2026 AFLW season opens on Sunday at Marvel Stadium, where St Kilda host Carlton for Spud's Game. The fixture is dedicated to mental health and honours late Saints great Danny ‘Spud’ Frawley. Both teams made finals last season, with Carlton finishing fourth and St Kilda seventh. The afternoon will be the first of four AFL/AFLW double-headers this season, with the men's Round 22 clash between the same clubs to follow. The men’s match carries finals weight, with Carlton (10th) flourishing under interim coach Josh Fraser and St Kilda (11th) needing a win to stay in the race for a spot in the wildcard round. The remainder of Round 1 is set to take place next weekend, opening with Hawthorn v Melbourne on Thursday.
How to watch: AFLW from 4.35pm AEST, then AFL from 7.20pm AEST, both at Marvel Stadium, on Fox Footy and Kayo.

Reporting by Pavitra Ravi and George Finlayson.

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